U.S. patent application number 10/258484 was filed with the patent office on 2003-05-15 for antenna device.
Invention is credited to Chiba, Isamu, Ohtsuka, Masataka, Urasaki, Shuji.
Application Number | 20030090433 10/258484 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 11737065 |
Filed Date | 2003-05-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030090433 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ohtsuka, Masataka ; et
al. |
May 15, 2003 |
Antenna device
Abstract
A plurality of concentric circle array antennas each having a
different radius are disposed on an identical plane, and a
plurality of element antennas are arranged circumferentially in
each of the concentric circle array antennas. The plurality of
concentric circle array antennas are arranged at regular intervals
d in most part thereof, and the concentric circle array antennas
corresponding to a remaining part of the plurality of concentric
circle array antennas are arranged at intervals d.+-.0.4 to 0.6 d.
The radii of the part of plural concentric circles change by
.+-.(0.4 to 0.6)d, so that it is possible to reduce a wide-angle
side lobe.
Inventors: |
Ohtsuka, Masataka; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Chiba, Isamu; (Tokyo, JP) ; Urasaki,
Shuji; (Tokyo, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BIRCH STEWART KOLASCH & BIRCH
PO BOX 747
FALLS CHURCH
VA
22040-0747
US
|
Family ID: |
11737065 |
Appl. No.: |
10/258484 |
Filed: |
October 25, 2002 |
PCT Filed: |
February 26, 2001 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP01/01419 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
343/867 ;
343/742 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01Q 21/22 20130101;
H01Q 3/26 20130101; H01Q 21/20 20130101; H01Q 21/061 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
343/867 ;
343/742 |
International
Class: |
H01Q 021/00; H01Q
011/12 |
Claims
1. An antenna device comprising a plurality of concentric circle
array antennas each having a different radius on an identical
plane, wherein a plurality of element antennas are arranged
circumferentially in each of the concentric circle array antennas,
wherein said plurality of concentric circle array antennas are
arranged at regular intervals d in most part thereof, and wherein
the concentric circle array antennas corresponding to a remaining
part of said plurality of concentric circle array antennas are
arranged at intervals d.+-.(0.4 to 0.6)d.
2. An antenna device according to claim 1, wherein the interval of
said plurality of concentric circle array antennas is set to one
wavelength or longer.
3. An antenna device comprising a plurality of concentric circle
array antennas each having a different radius on an identical
plane, wherein a plurality of element antennas are arranged
circumferentially in each of the concentric circle array antennas,
wherein said plurality of concentric circle array antennas are
divided into groups including four continuous concentric circle
array antennas, and one of the four concentric circle array
antennas which are included in each of the groups is arranged at an
interval d.+-.(0.4 to 0.6)d, and wherein the three remaining
concentric circle array antennas in each of said groups are
arranged at the regular intervals d.
4. An antenna device according to claim 3, wherein the interval of
said plurality of concentric circle array antennas is set to one
wavelength or longer.
5. An antenna device comprising: a first concentric circle array
antenna having a plurality of element antennas arranged at regular
intervals in a circumferential direction and having a radius
a.sub.n=L.sub.n.multidot.d where a radius coefficient is L.sub.n (n
is an integer), and a reference interval of the concentric circle
array antennas is d; and a second concentric circle array antenna
having a plurality of element antennas arranged at regular
intervals in a circumferential direction and having a radius
a.sub.n+1=L.sub.n+1.multidot.d.+-.(0.4 to 0.6)d.
6. An antenna device according to claim 5, wherein the interval of
said first and second concentric circle array antennas is set to
one wavelength or longer.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to an antenna device in which
a plurality of element antennas is arranged, for example, in a
communication or radar so as to form a beam.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a conventional antenna device
which is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
7-288417. Referring to FIG. 12, reference numeral 1 denotes element
antennas which are arranged on a plane, and reference numeral 2 is
concentric circles along which the plurality of element antennas 1
are arranged. Each of the element antennas 1 is connected with a
feed means that adjusts an excitation amplitude or an excitation
phase.
[0003] Then, the operation of the above-mentioned conventional
antenna device will be described. The excitation amplitude and the
excitation phase of each of the element antennas 1 are adjusted by
the feed means, so that the antenna device of the present invention
is capable of obtaining a desired radiation characteristic.
[0004] Also, FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another conventional
antenna device which is disclosed in, for example, 1999 IEEE, AP-S,
pp. 2032-2035, "Design of low side lobe circular ring arrays by
element radius optimization". The figure shows the arrangement of
the element antennas of an array antenna in which the element
antennas 1 are arranged along the concentric circles 2. Here,
reference numeral 4 denotes coordinates.
[0005] Referring to FIG. 13, a table indicative of intervals of the
concentric circles represents the intervals of the concentric
circles 2 by a wavelength unit. In the table, a right column shows
a case in which the respective concentric circles 2 are arranged at
regular intervals, whereas a left column shows a case in which the
intervals of the concentric circles 2 are so adjusted as to reduce
a side lobe.
[0006] Then, the operation of another conventional antenna device
will be described. In the conventional antenna device, the side
lobe is reduced by adjustment of the intervals of the concentric
circles 2. The adjusting manner is that a desired radiation pattern
is regulated, and the radius of each of the concentric circles 2 is
determined sequentially from the inner side so as to approximate
the desired radiation pattern.
[0007] Here, in order to avoid a quarter grating lobe stated below,
the intervals of the respective concentric circles 2 are limited to
one wavelength or shorter. Note that, the above document discloses
that the side lobe level of a portion in the vicinity of a main
beam, which is -17.7 dB in the case where the intervals of the
concentric circles are equal to each other is reduced to -27.4 dB
in the case where the intervals of the concentric circles are
adjusted.
[0008] In the array antenna, it is general that the arrangement of
the element antennas is of a rectangular arrangement or a
triangular arrangement from the viewpoint of easiness in
structuring a feed system or the like. In the rectangular
arrangement or the triangular arrangement, when the intervals of
the element antennas (hereinafter referred to as "element
intervals") are widened in order to reduce the number of element
antennas, the grating lobe having substantially the same level as
that of the main lobe occurs, resulting in a problem such as the
radiation in an unnecessary direction, or the like. On the
contrary, in the concentric circle arrangement described in the
above-mentioned conventional example, there is advantageous in that
a definite grating lobe does not occur even if the element
intervals are widened.
[0009] However, even in the concentric circle arrangement, when the
element intervals are widened, a side lobe having a level of some
degree which should be regarded as a quarter grating lobe over a
wide angle occurs, with the result that there may arise a problem
from the viewpoint of the unnecessary radiation suppression.
[0010] FIG. 11(a) shows one example. FIG. 11(a) is a diagram
showing the radiation pattern (radiation characteristic) of an
array antenna in which 18 concentric circles are arranged at
regular intervals. The element antennas 1 are arranged relatively
thickly on a circumference of each of the concentric circles 2 to
prevent a high side lobe from occurring due to the widened element
intervals in the circumferential direction. Also, the element
intervals are equal to each other along the circumferential
direction of all the concentric circles 2, and all of the element
antennas 1 are equal to each other in amplitude.
[0011] An abscissa axis u of FIG. 11(a) represents a u-coordinate
(which will be described in the description of the embodiments)
which corresponds to a wave-number space, and a main beam is
structured when u=0. When the intervals of the concentric circles 2
are widened, a visible region where the radiation pattern appears
in a real space is widened. For example, in the case where the main
beam is along a crest direction which is perpendicular to an
antenna plane, the region of 0.ltoreq.u.ltoreq.6.28 becomes the
radiation pattern of the real space when the intervals of the
concentric circles 2 are 1.lambda. (.lambda. is a wavelength), and
the region of 0.ltoreq.u.ltoreq.12.57 becomes the radiation pattern
of the real space when the intervals of the concentric circles 2
are 2.lambda..
[0012] As is understood from FIG. 11(a), when the intervals of the
concentric circles 2 become larger than about 1.lambda., the side
lobe of -20 dB level which is relatively large appears over the
wide angle. The appearance of the side lobe depends on the
intervals of the concentric circles 2, and in the case where the
main beam is scanned over the wide angle, the side lobe appears in
the real space even when the intervals of the concentric circles 2
are smaller than 1.lambda.. The wide angle side lobe level hardly
changes even if the number of concentric circles 2 increases, and
is about -20 dB in the case where an amplitude distribution of an
opening is uniform.
[0013] As described above, in the conventional regular-interval
concentric circle arrangement, there arises such a problem that the
side lobe which is high in the level over the wide angle occurs
when the intervals of the concentric circles 2 increase for the
purpose of reducing the number of element antennas 1 or the
like.
[0014] Also, in the case where the intervals of the concentric
circles 2 are narrow, there is shown a manner in which the side
lobe is reduced by adjusting the intervals of the concentric
circles 2 as described in the other conventional antenna device.
However, in the case where the intervals of the concentric circles
2 are 1.lambda. or more, there is no proposal of the effective
manner.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
[0015] The present invention has been made in order to solve the
above-mentioned problems, and therefore an object of the present
invention is to obtain an antenna device which is capable of
suppressing an unnecessary side lobe over the wide angle in the
case where intervals of concentric circles are widened.
[0016] According to claim 1 of the present invention, there is
provided an antenna device, including a plurality of concentric
circle array antennas each having a different radius on an
identical plane, in which a plurality of element antennas are
arranged circumferentially in each of the concentric circle array
antennas, in which the plurality of concentric circle array
antennas are arranged at regular intervals d in most part thereof,
and in which the concentric circle array antennas corresponding to
a remaining part of the plurality of concentric circle array
antennas are arranged at intervals d.+-.(0.4 to 0.6)d.
[0017] According to claim 2 of the present invention, in the
antenna device according to claim 1 of the invention, the interval
of the plurality of concentric circle array antennas is set to one
wavelength or longer.
[0018] According to claim 3of the present invention, there is
provided an antenna device, including a plurality of concentric
circle array antennas each having a different radius on an
identical plane, in which a plurality of element antennas are
arranged circumferentially in each of the concentric circle array
antennas, in which the plurality of concentric circle array
antennas are divided into groups including four continuous
concentric circle array antennas, and one of the four concentric
circle array antennas which are included in each of the groups is
arranged at an interval d.+-.(0.4 to 0.6)d, and in which the three
remaining concentric circle array antennas in each of the groups
are arranged at the regular intervals d.
[0019] According to claim 4 of the present invention, in the
antenna device according to claim 3 of the invention, the interval
of the plurality of concentric circle array antennas is set to one
wavelength or longer.
[0020] According to claim 5of the present invention, there is
provided an antenna device, including: a first concentric circle
array antenna having a plurality of element antennas arranged at
regular intervals in a circumferential direction and having a
radius a.sub.n=L.sub.n.multidot.d where a radius coefficient is
L.sub.n (n is an integer), and a reference interval of the
concentric circle array antennas is d; and a second concentric
circle array antenna having a plurality of element antennas
arranged at regular intervals in a circumferential direction and
having a radius a.sub.n+1=L.sub.n+1.multidot.d.+-.(0.4 to
0.6)d.
[0021] According to claim 6 of the present invention, in the
antenna device according to claim 5 of the invention, the interval
of the first and second concentric circle array antennas is set to
one wavelength or longer.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a structure of an antenna device
in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 2 are diagrams showing an arrangement of element
antennas of a concentric circle arrangement array antenna in
accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a diagram for explanation of a radiation
characteristic of the antenna device in accordance with the first
embodiment of the present invention in a wave-number space;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a graph showing the respective radiation
characteristics of concentric circles in the case of a radius
coefficient L.sub.n=1, 3, 5 and 10 in the concentric circle
arrangement array antenna;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a graph separately showing the respective
radiation characteristic of the concentric circle arrangement array
antennas;
[0027] FIG. 6 are graphs showing the radiation characteristics of
the entire array in the case where a radius coefficient L.sub.1=7
and a radius coefficient L.sub.2=8, and in the case where the
radius coefficient L.sub.1=7 and the radius coefficient
L.sub.2=7.5, in accordance with the first embodiment of the present
invention, respectively;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a structure of an antenna device
in accordance with a second embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 8 are graphs showing a composite radiation
characteristic of the radius coefficient L.sub.1=7 and the radius
coefficient L.sub.2=8.44 and the composite radiation characteristic
of a radius coefficient L.sub.3=9 and a radius coefficient
L.sub.4=10, in accordance with the second embodiment of the present
invention, respectively;
[0030] FIG. 9 are graphs showing the composite radiation
characteristic in the case of the radius coefficients L.sub.1=7,
L.sub.2=8, L.sub.3=9 and L.sub.4=10 and the composite radiation
characteristic in the case of the radius coefficients L.sub.1=7,
L.sub.2=8.44, L.sub.3=9, and L.sub.4=10, in accordance with the
second embodiment of the present invention, respectively;
[0031] FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a structure of an antenna
device in accordance with a third embodiment of the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 11 are graphs showing the composite radiation
characteristic (conventional example) of a regular-interval
concentric circle arrangement (the number of concentric circles is
18) and the composite radiation characteristic (third embodiment)
of an irregular-interval concentric circle arrangement (the number
of concentric circles is 18);
[0033] FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a structure of a conventional
antenna device; and
[0034] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing a structure of another
conventional antenna device.
BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
[0035] First Embodiment
[0036] An antenna device in accordance with a first embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a structure of
the antenna device in accordance with the first embodiment of the
present invention. In the respective drawings, the identical
reference numerals designate identical or equivalent parts.
[0037] Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a plurality
of element antennas, and reference numeral 2 is concentric circles
along which the plurality of element antennas 1 is arranged.
[0038] In this example, an operation of an array antenna in which
the element antennas 1 are arranged on the concentric circles 2
will be first described so that advantages of the first embodiment
become apparent.
[0039] FIG. 2 are diagrams showing an arrangement of element
antennas of a concentric circle arrangement array antenna,
respectively. Referring to FIG. 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a
plurality of element antennas, reference numeral 2 denotes a
plurality of concentric circles, reference numeral 3 denotes
intervals of the element antennas 1 along a circumferential
direction of the respective concentric circles 2, and reference
numeral 4 denotes coordinates.
[0040] Also, FIG. 3 is a diagram for explanation of a radiation
characteristic of the above-mentioned antenna device in a
wave-number space. In FIG. 3, reference numeral 5 denotes
wave-number space coordinates, and reference numeral 6 denotes a
visible region.
[0041] Then, the structure of the antenna device according to this
embodiment will be described. In the antenna device according to
this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, the plurality of element
antennas 1 are arranged on the plurality of concentric circles 2
which are assumed to be located on an x-y plane of the coordinates
4.
[0042] The concentric circles 2 are numbered sequentially in the
order from the inner side as shown in FIG. 2(b) (1, 2, 3, . . . ,
n, . . . , and N), and the total number thereof is N. Also, it is
assumed that the radius of an n-th concentric circle 2 is a.sub.n,
and the number of element antennas on the n-th concentric circle 2
is M.sub.n. Also, it is assumed that the element antennas 1 are
arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of
the concentric circle 2 within one concentric circle 2, and also
all of the element antennas 1 on the n-th concentric circle 2 are
equal to each other in the excitation amplitude that is designated
by E.sub.n. In addition, it is assumed that the element antennas 1
are arranged on the n-th concentric circle 2 from a position that
rotates from the x-axis of the coordinates 4 by an angle
.DELTA..sub.n.
[0043] Then, the operation of the antenna device in accordance with
this embodiment will be described. The antenna device in accordance
with this embodiment obtains a desired radiation characteristic by
applying a given excitation amplitude and excitation phase to the
element antennas 1. In the first embodiment, there is considered a
case in which the excitation phase is given to the respective
element antennas 1 so that the radiation phases of the respective
element antennas 1 become in phase in a desired direction
(.theta..sub.0, .phi..sub.0). Assuming that an angle .phi. of an
m.sub.n-th element antenna 1 on an x-y plane as counted from the
x-axis on the n-th concentric circle 2 is .phi.'m.sub.n, and the
wave-number in a free space is k, a radiation characteristic
f(.theta., .phi.) of the antenna is represented by the following
expression (1). 1 f ( , ) = 1 E all n = 1 N E n m n = 1 M n exp [ j
k a n { ( sin cos cos m n ' + sin sin sin m n ' ) - ( sin 0 cos 0
cos m n ' + sin 0 sin 0 sin m n ' ) } ] where E all = n = 1 N E n M
n Expression ( 1 )
[0044] The above expression (1) is represented by the wave-number
space with sin.theta.cos.phi. and sin.theta.sin.phi. as orthogonal
axes as the following expression (2). In the following expression
(2), J.sub.n is an n-order first Bessel function. 2 f ( , ) = 1 E
all n = 1 N [ E n M n { J 0 ( k a n ) _ + 2 q = 1 .infin. j M n q J
M n q ( k a n ) cos ( M n q ( - n ) ) _ _ } ] where = ( sin cos -
sin 0 cos 0 ) 2 + ( sin sin - sin 0 sin 0 ) 2 cos = ( sin cos - sin
0 cos 0 ) ( sin cos - sin 0 cos 0 ) 2 + ( sin sin - sin 0 sin 0 ) 2
Expression ( 2 )
[0045] It is found from the above expression (2) that the radiation
characteristic of the wave-number space has the amplitude change in
a sine shape on a circumference which is at a constant distance
.rho. from the beam direction (sin.theta..sub.0cos.phi..sub.0, sin
.theta..sub.0sin.phi..sub.0) as shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3, the
interior of the circumstance which is at a distance 1 from the
origin of the wave-number space coordinates 5 is a radiation
pattern (visible region 6) which appears in an actual physical
space.
[0046] In addition, it is found from the above expression (2) that
although a singly underlined portion having a 0-order first Bessel
function contributes to a main beam (position of .rho.=0) and a
side lobe (region of .rho.>0), because a doubly underlined
portion is formed by a first Bessel function of 1 or more order
having no value at the time of .rho.=0, the doubly underlined
portion contributes to only the side lobe of .rho.>0.
[0047] A first Bessel function J.sub.n(x) of 1 or more order is
very small in value generally at the time of x=0 to n, and changes
in a sine shape at the time where x is larger than that range.
Therefore, when the term of q=1 on the doubly underlined portion of
the expression (2) is sufficiently small within the visible region
6, the term of q>0 can be ignored, and the entire doubly
underlined portion becomes small.
[0048] In other words, when the number of element antennas M.sub.n
on each of the concentric circles 2 is larger to some degree, the
doubly underlined portion of the expression (2) can be ignored in
the visible region 6, and the radiation characteristic can be
evaluated by only the term of the singly underlined portion. Also,
in this case, the radiation pattern does not depend on a
circumferential variable .xi. of the wave-number space and has a
constant amplitude on the circumference which is at a constant
distance .rho. from the beam direction
(sin.theta..sub.0cos.phi..sub.0, sin.theta..sub.0sin.phi..sub.0).
That is, the radiation pattern has a radiation characteristic which
is rotationally symmetric about the beam direction used as a center
in the wave-number space.
[0049] In this example, a reference interval of the concentric
circles 2 is represented by d, and a radius of the n-th concentric
circle 2 is represented by a.sub.n=L.sub.n.multidot.d. Here,
L.sub.n is the radius coefficient. When the doubly underlined
portion of the above-mentioned expression (2) is omitted, the
radiation characteristic is represented by the following expression
(3). 3 f ( , ) = 1 E all n = 1 N [ E n M n { J 0 ( k a n ) } ] = 1
E all n = 1 N [ E n M n { J 0 ( k L n d ) } ] = 1 E all n = 1 N [ E
n M n { J 0 ( L n u ) } ] = f ( u ) where u = k d Expression ( 3
)
[0050] The expression (3) is expressed by the u-coordinate of the
wave-number space. The radiation characteristic of FIG. 11(a) shows
a case in which the intervals of all of the concentric circles 2
are equal to each other (L.sub.n=n), the amplitudes of all of the
element antennas 1 are equal to each other (E.sub.n=1), and the
circumferential element intervals on all of the concentric circles
2 are equal to each other (M.sub.n.varies.L.sub.n), as described
above.
[0051] Then, in FIG. 11(a), a reason that a large sub lobe occurs
in the vicinity of the coordinates u=6.3 or u=12.6 in the
wave-number space will be described.
[0052] FIG. 4 shows the respective radiation characteristics of the
radius coefficient L.sub.n=1, 3, 5 and 10 on the concentric circle
2 in the concentric circle arrangement array antenna having the
radiation characteristic shown in FIG. 11 (a). The calculation is
made through the expression (3). The amplitude of the axis of
ordinate is represented by a field antilog value so that a phase
relationship can be understood.
[0053] As is apparent from FIG. 4, in the case where the radii of
all of the concentric circles 2 have the radius coefficient
L.sub.n=m, and m is an integer (including a case in which the
intervals of all of the concentric circles 2 are equal to each
other), the radiation characteristics of the respective concentric
circles 2 become substantially in phase in the vicinity of the
coordinates u=6.3 or u=12.6 in the wave-number space. For that
reason, a large side lobe occurs.
[0054] Then, a specific example of the first embodiment and its
advantages will be described. For simplification, the concentric
circle arrangement array is supposedly considered, which consists
of two concentric circles 2. It is assumed that the radius
coefficient thereof is L.sub.1=7 and L.sub.2=8 in the expression
(3).
[0055] FIG. 5 is a graph showing the respective radiation
characteristics of the concentric circle arrangement array,
separately. Because it shows a case in which the radius coefficient
L.sub.n=m, and m is an integer as described above, both of the
radiation characteristics become substantially in phase in the
vicinity of the radius coefficient coordinates u=6.3, or u=12.6 as
in FIG. 4. Strictly, the concentric circle of the radius
coefficient L.sub.1=7 has a peak at the time of u=6.4.
[0056] In this example, when the value of the radius coefficient
L.sub.2 is adjusted such that the valley of the concentric circle 2
having the radius coefficient L.sub.2 is superimposed on a peak of
the coordinates u=6.4 in the concentric circle 2 of the radius
coefficient L.sub.1=7, the side lobe in the vicinity of the
coordinates u=6.3 in the composite pattern of those concentric
circles has to attenuate. Since the valley of the concentric circle
2 having the radius coefficient L.sub.2=8 is at the coordinates
u=6, the radius coefficient L.sub.2=8.times.6/6.4=7.5 is newly
set.
[0057] FIG. 6(a) shows the radiation characteristic of the entire
array in the case of the radius coefficient L.sub.1=7 and the
radius coefficient L.sub.2=8, and FIG. 6(b) shows the radiation
characteristic of the entire array in the case of the radius
coefficient L.sub.1=7 and the radius coefficient L.sub.2=7.5. It is
found from FIGS. 6(a) and 6(b) that the side lobe at a wide angle
(in particular, u>4) is reduced by adjusting the radius of the
concentric circle 2 having the radius coefficient L.sub.2.
[0058] A reduction of the side lobe at the wide angle u can be made
by adjusting the radius of the concentric circles 2 that are
adjacent to each other. Since this manner superimposes the adjacent
peak and valley on each other, the variation of the radius
coefficient L.sub.2 is generally .+-.0.4 to 0.6.
[0059] Similarly, in the case where a larger number of concentric
circles 2 are provided, the radii of the partial concentric circles
2 are adjusted in the same manner, thereby being capable of
reducing the wide-angle side lobe.
[0060] As described above, in the first embodiment, the radii of
the parts of plural concentric circles 2 are allowed to change by
.+-.0.4 to 0.6d (d is a reference interval of the concentric
circles 2) with the advantage that the wide-angle side lobe is
reduced.
[0061] Second Embodiment
[0062] An antenna device in accordance with a second embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a structure of
the antenna device in accordance with the second embodiment of the
present invention.
[0063] Referring to FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 denotes a plurality
of element antennas, and reference numeral 2 is concentric circles
along which the plurality of element antennas 1 is arranged.
[0064] In this example, the concentric circle arrangement array is
considered, which consists of four concentric circles 2. As the
radius coefficient, L.sub.1=7, L.sub.2=8, L.sub.3=9 and L.sub.4=10
are first set. In this example, the radius of the concentric circle
2 having the radius coefficient L.sub.2 is adjusted to provide
L.sub.2=8.44. This is set to superimpose the peak of u=6.4 when
L.sub.1=7 on the valley of u=6.75 when L.sub.2=8 in FIG. 5, and is
obtained as the radius coefficient
L.sub.2=8.times.6.75/6.4.ident.8.44. In this case, the composite
radiation characteristic of the radius coefficient L.sub.1=7 and
the radius coefficient L.sub.2=8.44 is shown in FIG. 8(a), and the
composite radiation characteristic of the radius coefficient
L.sub.3=9 and the radius coefficient L.sub.4=10 is shown in FIG.
8(b).
[0065] All of the radiation characteristics of FIG. 6(a) as well as
FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b) are pulsations with respect to the u-axis of
the wave-number space, and in this example, and an attention is
paid to its envelope. The peaks and the valleys of the envelope in
FIG. 6(a) showing the radiation characteristic of the radius
coefficient L.sub.1=7 and L.sub.2=8 substantially correspond to the
peaks and the valleys of the envelope in FIG. 8(b) showing the
radiation characteristic of the radius coefficient L.sub.3=9 and
the radius coefficient L.sub.4=10. This means that the side lobe is
liable to increase at a specific position in the case where the
radius of the concentric circle changes at intervals equal to the
radius coefficients L.sub.1=7, L.sub.2=8, L.sub.3=9 and
L.sub.4=10.
[0066] On the contrary, FIG. 8(a) showing the composite radiation
characteristic of the radius coefficient L.sub.1=7 and the radius
coefficient L.sub.2=8.44 is generally reverse to FIG. 8(b) in the
peaks and the valleys of the envelope. Therefore, in the radiation
characteristic that composes FIGS. 8(a) and 8(b), it is expected
the side lobe be reduced.
[0067] The composite radiation characteristics in the cases of the
radius coefficients L.sub.1=7, L.sub.2=8, L.sub.3=9 and L.sub.4=10
and the radius coefficients L.sub.1=7, L.sub.2=8.44, L.sub.3=9 and
L.sub.4=10 are shown in FIGS. 9(a) and 9(b), respectively. The
latter radiation characteristic has the side lobe reduced at the
wide angle (in particular, in the vicinity of u=6.3).
[0068] As described above, in the second embodiment, a manner is
adopted in which two concentric circles 2 among which the radius of
one concentric circle is adjusted to .+-.0.4 to 0.6d are combined
with two concentric circles 2 both of which are not adjusted, that
is, the radius of only one of four concentric circles 2 is adjusted
to .+-.0.4 to 0.6d with the advantage that the wide-angel side lobe
is reduced.
[0069] Third Embodiment
[0070] An antenna device in accordance with a third embodiment of
the present invention will be described with reference to the
accompanying drawings. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a structure of
the antenna device in accordance with the third embodiment of the
present invention.
[0071] Referring to FIG. 10, reference numeral 1 denotes a
plurality of element antennas, and reference numeral 2 is a
plurality of concentric circles along which the plurality of
element antennas 1 is arranged. Also, reference numeral 7
designates a plurality of groups each of which consists of four
concentric circles 2 which will be described later.
[0072] In the above-mentioned second embodiment, the side lobe is
reduced by four concentric circles 2. However, in the array antenna
including a larger number of concentric circles 2, the concentric
circles 2 are bundled into a plurality of groups 7 each consisting
of four concentric circles, and the radius of one concentric circle
2 in each of the groups 7 is adjusted to .+-.0.4 to 0.6d, thereby
being capable of reducing the side lobe.
[0073] Also, in FIG. 10, X and Y are values that are standardized
by a reference interval d of the concentric circles 2. In the third
embodiment, there are provided 18 concentric circles 2, and the
manner of the above-mentioned second embodiment is applied by the
groups 7 of the concentric circles 2 of n=3 to 6, n=7 to 10, n=11
to 14 and n=15 to 18 apart from the concentric circles of n=1 and 2
which are small in the contribution to the radiation characteristic
(n is a position from the inner side of the concentric circle 2).
That is, L.sub.4=4.43, L.sub.8=8.44, L.sub.12=12.47 and
L.sub.16=16.50 are set, and L.sub.n=n is set at other
positions.
[0074] FIG. 11(b) is a graph showing the composite radiation
characteristic of the entire irregular-interval concentric circle
arrangement. Also, for comparison, the radiation characteristics in
the case where the above-mentioned adjustment is not conducted,
that is, in the case where the intervals of all the concentric
circles 2 are equal to each other (L.sub.n=n in all of the
concentric circles 2) are shown in FIG. 11(a).
[0075] In FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b), the axis of ordinate is indicated
by dB. It is found from FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b) that the wide-angle
side lobe is reduced, and a reduction of about 5 dB is made, in
particular, in the vicinity of the coordinates u=6.3 through the
manner of the third embodiment. That is, the wide-angle maximum
side lobe level is reduced by 5 dB.
[0076] As described above, the manner of the third embodiment has
such an advantage that the wide-angle side lobe level is reduced
even in the array antenna having a larger number of concentric
circles 2.
[0077] As was already described above, when the concentric circle
intervals of the concentric circle arrangement are made large for
the purpose of reducing the number of element antennas or the like,
there arises such a problem that the side lobe which is high in
level may occur even if no grating lobe that is found in a
triangular arrangement or a rectangular arrangement appears. The
above-mentioned respective embodiments show the manners for
reducing the side lobe more in the concentric circle arrangement,
and are greatly advantageous in that those embodiments can be
particularly applied to even a case in which the concentric circle
interval becomes one wavelength or longer. Also, those embodiments
have an advantage that the number of element antennas is reduced by
widening the concentric circle interval. In addition, in a phased
array antenna where an expensive module is connected to each of the
element antennas or the like, the advantage that the costs are
reduced in accordance with the present invention is great.
* * * * *